Around the Sun: A Blog About Saving Money in Portland, Oregon, and beyond

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: October 24–26

October 24th, 2008

Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!

Friday, October 24

• Kate Gaffney (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Miss Michael Jodell (website) and the Dim Sons will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Break As We Fall (website) will perform at East Burn (1800 E. Burnside) at 10:00 pm. Visit the East Burn website for more information.

• Denny Bixby (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Sonny Hess (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.

• Author David Wolman will talk about his book “Righting the Mother Tongue” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside). For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Author David Heatley will talk about his book “My Brain is Hanging Upside Down” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne (3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd). For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Art Opening and Reception for “Un Bijou”: Artist Susan Lake explores themes of nature, balance, and the role of humans in the world through her art. She works in pencils and watercolors, as well as fabric art and needle-felting. Children are welcome at the event. Gossamer (2418 E. Burnside St), 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Steeped,” the first Portland-made narrative film produced by wideshot studios, is making its long-awaited debut, alongside other films and music videos made by the wideshot team. The screening is at Mount Tabor Legacy on SE 48th and Hawthorne at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Molly Gloss will talk about her book “The Hearts of Horses” at the Cedar Mill Community Library (12505 NW Cornell Rd) at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Haunters,” a high-production, locally produced documentary, profiles the fascinating subculture of the haunted attraction industry and people who produce home-made & backyard “haunted house” events. Featuring an original soundtrack by Portland band, Point Line Plane. Starts at 10:00 pm sharp at Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th Ave). For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, October 25

• ParkFest 2008: Come Play & Have Your Say: The event will include workshops, discussion groups and information tables on the future of Portland’s park, as well as lots of recreational activities and class demonstrations for folks of all ages. University Park Community Center (9009 N. Foss), 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lead-Safe Kids Fair: The event includes lead-free toy giveaways, blood lead testing, kids’ activities, toy and dishware/pottery lead screening (up to 4 items per household), lead poisoning prevention workshop and more. Community Room at IRCO (10301 NE Glisan St), 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• East Portland/Montavilla Halloween Carnival: Kids aged 10 years and under, with an accompanying adult, are invited to an evening of carnival games, face painting, crafts and more. Tickets for activities are 4 for $1. Bring 2 cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank and receive a maximum of 4 free tickets per family. Wear a costume and march in the parade at the end of the night. East Portland Community Center (740 SE 106th Ave), 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• St. Johns Spooktacular: Kids aged 3 to 11 years are invited to enjoy carnival games, face painting and more at St. Johns Community Center (8427 N. Central) from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Tickets for activities are 5/$1. Every can of food you donate for the Oregon Food Bank will earn you 1 free bag of popcorn. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit the event website.

• Halloween Party at A Children’s Place Bookstore: The festivities will kick off with a reading from local author Dale Bayse followed by activities and ghoulish good times for all. 4807 NE Fremont St, 11:00 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• ”Gourdy Pumpernickel’s Harvest Surprise”: The Mudeye Puppet Company presents this all-new, all-original, all-ages puppet show about a determined but slightly silly farmer who never gives up. Hillsdale Library (1525 SW Sunset Blvd), 11:00 am–11:45 am and noon–12:45 pm. Free tickets for seating will be available at the reference desk 30 minutes prior to the first program, at 10:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• Ledding Library’s Halloween Party: Kids of all ages are invited to the library at 2:00 pm for games, crafts, and non-spooky magic by magician Curt Nelson. Costumes are welcome. For more information, visit the library website.

• 5th Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin: Giant 800-pound pumpkin boats will compete in a zany and exciting series of heats. This year’s event will include pumpkin decorating, music, hot food and drinks and more. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Lake at Tualatin Commons (8325 SW Nyberg St). For more information, access the flyer here (PDF file).

• Happy Valley Harvest Fest: Come to Happy Valley Park from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm for live jazz music, a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, a pumpkin recipe contest and more. About 300 free pumpkins will be given away. More information can be found at the Happy Valley website or OregonLive.

• Happy Valley Volkswalk: Happy Valley will also host a Volkswalking event beginning at 8:00 am at Happy Valley Park. The event includes short, guided walks for families, as well as 5K and 10K walks. More information can be found at the Happy Valley website or OregonLive.

• African American Alliance Homeownership Fair: Home buying and homeownership professionals will lead workshops for future homeowners, current homeowners and seniors. Free ice cream and activities will occupy the kids. Emanuel Hospital Atrium (501 North Graham), 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• World Wide Sketch Crawl: A sketch crawl is a drawing marathon. Think pub crawl without the pub (or with the pub if you desire). Join the Portland group downtown at 10:00 am. Meet at the Starbucks on SW Park (at Clay). We’ll sketch around the South Park Blocks and share our sketches with each other. For more information, visit the event website.

• GreenWalks: Explore University Park with a guide from Portland Parks & Recreation. 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Appropriate for adults and families. Meet in front of the Community Center at 9009 N. Foss Ave. For details, visit the PP&R website.

• Ehren Ebbage (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Ali Wesley (website) will perform at East Burn (1800 E. Burnside) at 10:00 pm. Visit the East Burn website for more information.

• Lisa Stringfield and Lara Michelle (both formerly of Carmina Piranha) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Eric John Kaiser (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Redwood Sons (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Annie Bloom’s Books 30th Anniversary Party: From 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, bring the kids for cake, food and fun. From 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, a reception for local authors will be held at O’Connor’s Annex. In the bookstore, local musicians Dick Weissman and Tim Roth will be playing at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, respectively. Food, drink and lively conversation will flow into the late hours. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, October 26

• Portland Zombie Walk 2008: Zombie aficionados are invited to dress up and roam together through the streets of downtown Portland. Meet at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 4:00 pm exactly. For more information, visit the event website.

• Festival of Faith 2008: Join members of 24 different faith groups for a day of music, dance, art and discussion. Talk with followers of Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Bahai and other faiths. Portland State University Smith Memorial Student Center, 3rd Floor Ballroom (1825 SW Broadway), 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Moreland Monster March: Kids and their parents will be marching down Milwaukie & Bybee Avenues decked out in their Halloween costumes. The Monster March starts at 3:00 pm from Llewellyn School and ends there. Lots of fun and lots of candy. Neighborhood Notes has a bit more info.

• Spooky Stroll Halloween Parade & Events in West Linn: Costumed moms, dads, kids and on-leash pets are all invited to participate. The approximately three-quarter mile stroll starts and ends at Tanner Creek Park. There will be music, crafts, candies, cookies and hot drinks for everyone to enjoy. 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Who Killed the Electric Car?” will be showing at Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd). Doors open at 4:30 pm; film starts at 5:00 pm. All ages. For more information, visit the event website.

• Children’s book author Addie Boswell will read from her new picture storybook “Rain Stomper” and lead kids in a writing and drawing activity. Tigard Library (13125 SW Hall Blvd), 1:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Press Club will host the world premiere of Loch Lomond’s new video “Blue Lead Fences” at 8:00 pm, followed by a showing of the Mel Brooks classic “Young Frankenstein” at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Author Alan Cheuse will talk about his book “To Catch the Lightning” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W Burnside). For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Envisioning America: Jews and the Making of the Broadway Musical: A lively afternoon of conversation and song exploring the Broadway musical and the vivid, pioneering contributions of Jewish artists to the genre. Presented by Portland Center Stage. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave),12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Wonder Woman Day: The all-ages event will include a quartet of comic book creators signing Wonder Woman comics and special art prints, as well as a silent art auction with over 150 of the world’s top artists contributing original art, plus costumed super-heroes on-site, raffles, and more. A benefit for Raphael House, Bradley-Angle House and Portland Women’s Crisis Line. Excalibur Comics (2444 SE Hawthorne Blvd), noon to 6:00 pm. Click here for more information.

If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. If you’d like me to include an event in a future round-up, please contact me.

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